Aerial vessel.



No. 678,ll4 Patunted July 9, l90l. E. M. FARR.

AERIAL VESSEL.

(Application filed Feb. 18.

I10 Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

EUGENE M. FARR, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

YAEIRIAL V EiSSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,1 14, dated July 9, 1901. Application filed February 19, 1900. Serial No. 5,839. I (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EUGENE M. FARR, a citi-, zen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful Aerial Vessel, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to aerial vessels for the purpose of navigatingthe air; and one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a combined balloon and aeroplane so constructed that it may be readily converted from aballoon into an aeroplane, or vice versa, thus enabling the same part of the apparatus to be utilized for ascending to the desired height and subsequently collapsed, partially or wholly, and employed as an aeroplane, which as the machine is propelled serves to maintain the said machine in the air, owing to the resistance of the air against the inclined surface of the aeroplane. In connection with the combined balloon and aeroplane means are provided for inflating and deflating the same and additional means for facilitating the collapse of the balloon and holding it in its collapsed condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in connection with the balloon and aeroplane and in connection with a car supported beneath the same, improved propelling devices for the machine as a Whole, the said propelling devices being in the form of screws of considerable length having continuous spiral webs 0r blades and arranged on opposite sides of the car suspended below the balloon.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of'the ensuing description.

The invention consists in certain novel features anddetails of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure, lis a perspective View of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention, showing twin screws at each side thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the balloon inflated. Fig. 3 is a similar view show ing the balloon deflated and adapted for use as an aeroplane and also showing a single screw in place of the twin screws. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section through the machine;

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in'all the figures of the drawings.

The machine contemplated in this invention comprises a combined balloon and aeroplane, in the construction of which I employ a stiff bottom wall 1,which is preferably formed of aluminium and which may bebraced or reinforced and stiffened in any approved manner- The plate 1 is for the greater portion of its length straight or flat, while the end portions'2, forming the bow and stern, are curved or deflected upwardly, terminating at the points 3. The upper wall of the balloon also consists of a similar plate 4, which is straight or fiat through the major portion of its length, the ends being slightly deflected or curved downward. Both of the plates 1 and 4 are substantially rectangular; but the top plate 4 is shorter than the bottom plate,a s clearly shownin Figs. 2 and 3. The side edges of the top plate 4 are preferably bent downward, so as to provide rounded surfaces, which will avoid wear onthe ropes hereinafter referredto. g V

The side walls 5 of the balloon consist of any suitable flexible material united by an air tight joint to the top and bottom plates.

Similar fabric or flexible material is employed to form the end continuations 6 of the top' plate 4, so that when the balloon is inflated it resembles in longitudinal section or side elevation a double-pointed cigar. Thedeflected portions 2 of the bottom plate are designed to act as aeroplane-surfaces after the balloon is collapsed in the manner hereinafter described.

Suspended beneath the balloon is a car 7 of sufficient size to comprise a saloon or cabin 8, an upper open deck 9, surrounded by rail 10, and'a lower room or hold 11, in which is arranged an engine or suitable motor 12, by means of which the machine is propelled, and in which may be located the gas-gener-' ators for inflating the balloon. The car is provided at its advance end with a sharpened how 13 in order to facilitate its progress. Projecting downward from the bottom of the car is a longitudinal fin 14:, which tends to keep the machine in a straight line. At opposite sides of the car are arranged cylinders 15, which form housings for Archimedean propelling-screws 16. Preferably I employ twin screws 16 at each side of the car, with a separate cylindrical housing 15 for each screw. Where two screws are employed, they are mounted upon a common shaft 17, which is provided about midway the length of the machine with a band-pulley 18, around which passes a driving-belt 19, connecting with the motor 12 within the car. The side walls of the hold 11 may be utilized to constitute parts of the cylindrical housings 15, the said side walls converging downwardly and being curved for that purpose, as sh own' versely across the top plate 4. Theropes 20 extend downward to thecar, so thatthey may bedrawn downward and fastened for collapsing the balloon and holding the samein its collapsed condition.

23 and 2% designate inflating and deflating tubes or pipes, respectively, which extend downward to the car. The inflating pipemay inga flat body portion with an upturned forbe connected with any suitable generator for supplying gas to the balloon when it becomes necessary to inflate the same.

fiated will afiord the necessary buoyancy to raise the machine as a wholeto any desired elevation. When the desired elevation is attained, the engine is started, and when the" machine attains the necessary velocity 'in" order to increase the speed of the machine and reduce the area of resistance of the bal'-' loon the latter is partially deflated and th e reeling-ropes drawn downward and secured,

so as to hold the top plate 4 in the position shown in Fig. 3, in which position the up portion of the plate 1 acting to prevent the machine from descending. Descent may be When the balloon is inflated, it assumes the shape iilus trated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, and the partswill be so proportioned that the balloon when in propellers or by partially inflating the ma chine and stopping the propellers In connection with the balloon and aero plane I may employ means for pivotally mounting the bottom plate of the balloon with relation to the car and other means for adjusting and varying the angle of the bot tom plate 1 with relation to the car, which will make it possible to ascend or descend at any desired angle.

I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction hereinabove set forth, but reservethe right to change, modify, or vary the construction within the scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured f by Letters Patent, is-

1.' In aerial vessels, the combination with a collapsible balloon, of an aeroplane forming one of the balloon-walls, substantially as de- L scribed.

'2; An aerial vessel comprising a collapsible balloon having a stiff wall forming, when the balloon is collapsed, an'aeroplane, substaiitially as described.

' 3 In aerial vessels, the combination with an aeroplane, of a horizontally-elongated col- .liapsible balloon attached throughout its length thereto and having one of its walls formed by the aeroplane, substantially as do scribed.

i 4. 'In aerial vessels, the combination with 1 an aeroplane, of a horizontally-elongated coljla'psible "balloon attached throughout its length andwidth to the upper side thereof,

the aeroplaneconstitutingone of the balloon walls, substantially as described.

5. The combination'with an aeroplane hav lwardportiomof a collapsible balloon attached 'thei'etdand' adapted to fold belowthe hori-' zontal plane of the forward edge of the aero- Lplane, theaero'plane forming the bottom wan "of the balloon, substantially asdescribed.

6." Thejcom'bination with an aeroplane consisting of a flat body with upwardly-deflected front and rear end portions, ofa collapsible 1 balloon arranged to fold below the plane of the front and rear edges of the upwardly-de- ;flected portions of the aeroplane, the aeroplane forming the bottom wall of the balloon,

substantially as described.

W 7. The combination with an aeroplane con- ?sistingof a flat, body with upwardlyadeflected front and rear end portions, of a collapsible balloon connected therewith and adapted to be housed below the plane of the edges of the upwardly-deflected end portions, and reefing means forsecuring the balloon when partially or wholly collapsed, the aeroplane forming one, or the balloon-walls, substantially as de scribed.

T 8. The combination with a collapsible hal- 65 accomplished by decreasing thespeed ortne iloouhaving fleirible sides, ofan aeroplane of stiff material forming the bottom wall of the and bottom walls, substantially as de* balloon, a stiif top or upper wall for the balscribed. .10 loon, and reefing-ropes associated with said In testimony whereof I affix my signature top wall for drawing the top walltoward the in presence of two witnesses.

5 bottom Wall, substantially as described. EUGENE M. FARR.

9. A collapsible balloon comprising a stiff Witnesses: lower Wall forming an aeroplane, a stiff top GEORGE D. FARR, Wall, and flexible sides connecting the top GEO. J. REES. 

